Author | Lightnews

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 20h

GOPC, in partnership with the Ohio EPA, is excited to announce it will host the 2026 Ohio Brownfields Conference on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026. For additional details and to sign-up to receive conference updates, please visit our website www.ohiobrownfields.com/2026conferen...

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 2d

Great outcomes from an Active Transportation demonstration project in Columbus.

Our 2025 Guide, How to Build Safe How to Build Safe, Vibrant Streets in Ohio, discussed demonstration projects & how they can help support more development of AT infrastructure across the state. Get the details below.

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 5d

Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at the Greater Ohio Policy Center!

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 6d

Marion (one of our great Reinvention Cities) has picked itself up by the bootstraps and is working to revitalize one step at a time. That work earned it the recognition as the @strongtowns.org Strong Town of the Year. Now everyone can learn about the work 💪👇 academy.strongtowns.org/p/strongestt...

How to do a Lot with a Little: Lessons from a Strongest Town Winner

Join on November 6

academy.strongtowns.org

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 7d

AO50 is Ohio's long-range, multi-modal transportation plan, developed by ODOT, that will guide the state’s transportation policies for years to come. Take the AO50 online survey to help shape the future of transportation across our state.

publicinput.com/ao50e2

Access Ohio 2050 - Round 2 Engagement Survey - PublicInput

Access Ohio 2050 (AO50) is Ohio s long-range multi-modal transportation plan developed by the Ohio Department of Transportation that will Guide the state s transportation policies Inform investment de...

publicinput.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 8d

It's spooky season, and also 'Walktober,' a time to highlight the dangers posed by unsafe streets for pedestrians & cyclists.

Since 2019, GOPC has published a “Spooky Streets” blog in the fall. Our annual look Ohio's dangerous roadways & the risk they pose is now on our website.

Spooky Streets 2025: Our Annual Look at Ohio's Dangerous Roadways & The Risks The Pose — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Skeletons, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night; the month of October is full of scenes that call back to childhood fears and superstitions. Staff at GOPC are afraid of conventional thin...

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 9d

ODOD is hosting a free webinar tomorrow at 10am to discuss the updated guidelines and scoring for the Ohio Brownfield Program. Topics include eligibility, the application process, guideline updates, and a question-and-answer section for applicants. Register here ohio.webex.com/webappng/sit...

Meet virtually with Cisco Webex. Anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.

ohio.webex.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 12d

Each month, we feature an Ohio city as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series. This month, we highlight the county seat of Sandusky County, Fremont.
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2025/10...

"Where People Come First": A Visit to Fremont, Ohio — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Each month, we feature an Ohio city as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series.

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 13d

The Ohio Department of Development has published revised guidelines for the Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) program, which provides grants for the purchase of qualifying residential properties, the cost of construction/rehabilitation, or nonrefundable tax credits for qualifying activities.

Welcome Home Ohio Program

The Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) program is designed to provide grants for the purchase of qualifying residential properties, the cost of construction or rehabilitation, or a nonrefundable tax credit for qualifying activities.

development.ohio.gov

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 13d

State lawmakers take another step to provide some property tax relief. Learn more about the latest actions which aims to prevent large property tax spikes in some Ohio communities. www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...

Ohio House votes to cut property taxes by more than $2 billion. Here's how

The Ohio House passed two bills that would slash property taxes by more than $2 billion and tie future tax hikes to inflation.

www.dispatch.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 14d

Is your organization ready for what’s coming? As community needs evolve, funding landscapes continue to shift, and technology changes how we operate day-to-day, many organizations are reassessing their strategic priorities. And GOPC is here to assist!
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2025/10...

GOPC is Here to Assist with Strategic Planning Services — Greater Ohio Policy Center

GOPC can help your organization define its vision and develop an actionable strategic plan to implement it.

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 14d

The Ohio Department of Development has released updated guidelines and the new scoring rubric that will be used to award Brownfield Remediation Program grants in FY2026. Applications will begin being accepted November 12. Learn more here.
www.ohiobrownfields.com/resources#Di...

Resources — Revitalizing Ohio's Brownfields

www.ohiobrownfields.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 20d

Could passenger rail service expand in Ohio? Communities across the state commit funds to advance study on rail line connecting Pittsburgh to Chicago through mid-Ohio.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/l...

MORPC, rail partners commit $650,000 toward Chicago to Columbus train route

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and its rail partners are putting money down on a future rail route between Chicago and Pittsburgh.

www.dispatch.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 21d

We are working our our own annual commemoration of both: Spooky Streets. For now, here is our first "Spooky Streets" blog from back in 2019. www.greaterohio.org/blog/2019/10...

Spooky Street Designs Pose a Problem Year Round, Not Just at Halloween — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Skeletons, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night; the month of October is full of scenes that call back to childhood fears and superstitions. Staff at GOPC are afraid of conventional thin...

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 21d

Not only is October 'spooky season' but it is also known in some circles as 'walktober' to put an emphasis on active transportation and the dangers posed by unsafe streets for pedestrians and cyclists.

a dog dressed as a ghost is standing next to a pumpkin bucket .

ALT: a dog dressed as a ghost is standing next to a pumpkin bucket .

media.tenor.com

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 22d

Homeownership is becoming harder to achieve everywhere as demand outpaces supply. But housing and neighborhood nonprofits are using a variety of tools—some complex and some simple--to preserve and expand homeownership.
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2025/10...

Innovative Approaches to Preserving and Expanding Homeownership — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Homeownership is becoming harder to achieve everywhere as demand outpaces supply. But housing and neighborhood nonprofits are using a variety of tools—some complex and some simple--to preserve and exp...

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 23d

We wrote about the ROAD to Housing Act in July. You can learn more about the bill today on our blog. www.greaterohio.org/blog/2025/7/...

U.S. Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Housing Bill — Greater Ohio Policy Center

The federal legislation directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create new grant and loan programs of homeowners, rental assistance programs, and several new initiatives ...

www.greaterohio.org

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 23d

Last week, the U.S. Senate advanced the bipartisan "ROAD to Housing Act" as an attachment to the National Defense Reauthorization Act. The federal legislation is an omnibus package of housing-related bills that had been previously introduced by a number of members of the committee.

Senate passes its version of 2026 NDAA amid government shutdown

The legislation passed despite the government shutdown that has stalled most of Congress’s agenda.

federalnewsnetwork.com

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 26d

Four leaders from across Ohio joined a panel discussion to share how their efforts are keeping homeowners in homes and expanding access to homeownership to new generations.

youtu.be/wyZqIbLsHts

Innovative Approaches to Preserving and Expanding Homeownership

YouTube video by GreaterOhio

youtu.be

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 26d

Homeownership is becoming harder to achieve everywhere as demand outpaces supply. But housing and neighborhood nonprofits are using a variety of tools—some complex and some simple--to preserve and expand homeownership.

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 27d

Days after the Governor's property tax panel released its report, House lawmakers have voted on two proposals aimed at addressing property tax concerns. www.statenews.org/government-p...

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 28d

Communities know there are many benefits to doing residential in-fill development. But such projects can be hard to finance and build. It's great to see Cleveland Heights partnering with local groups like Future Heights CDC to address housing where its needed most. www.cleveland.com/community/20...

Cleveland Heights council approves sale of 65 vacant lots for infill housing

In all, the initiative adds up to about one-third of the 175 vacant lots the city owns, giving the developers three years to acquire the lots and five years to build on them.

www.cleveland.com

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · 29d

The panel charged by Governor DeWine to produce proposals on how to address property tax reform released a report with 20 recommendations on the deadline date of September 30. What's next for property tax reform in Ohio now that the panel has completed its work?
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2025/10...

Governor's Property Tax Working Group Submits 20 Recommendations for Reform — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Members of the Ohio General Assembly have expressed skepticism about the Property Tax Working Group’s recommendations, arguing that their own work on the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Ref...

www.greaterohio.org

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Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · Oct 6

Last chance to register.

Join us this Thursday, October 9 for "Innovative Approaches to Preserving & Expanding Homeownership. The webinar kicks-off at 2pm. Registration is free, but space is limited, so sign-up now. www.greaterohio.org/upcoming-eve...

Innovative Approaches to Preserving and Expanding Homeownership — Greater Ohio Policy Center

Homeownership is becoming harder to achieve everywhere as demand outpaces supply. But housing and neighborhood nonprofits are using a variety of tools—some complex and some simple--to preserve and exp...

www.greaterohio.org

Greater Ohio Policy Center @greaterohio.org · Oct 3

The Hub District for the City of Xenia is a great example of how greenways can spur placemaking and walkable, mixed-use development. The Hub District is a key part of Xenia’s new 10-year plan, neXtPlan, recently won the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Award from APA Ohio.

CNU Legacy Project recognized, moving forward

A plan from CNU 32, involving a Hub District at a confluence of greenways in Xenia, a small city northeast of Cincinnati, is having an impact.

www.cnu.org